Readings for Lent
4B:
2Chronicles 36:14-23; Ps. 122; Ephesians 2:4-10; John 6:4-15
March 30, 2003
The Rev. Mary B. Blessing
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. (John 6:15) Jesus' power to create food for hungry peasants gave them hope. Diseased, hungry, lonely people saw Jesus use his power to heal, to feed, to comfort. They wanted to make him King. But Jesus knew his kingdom was not of this world. He ran away from them.
What kind of king did the Jews of Jesus day want? A king who would feed them. A king who took care of their physical needs. A king to replace Roman rule. But Jesus did not want to rule by things external. Jesus wanted to rule their hearts. Jesus wanted them to enter an internal kingdom of spiritual transformation. The kingdom of God that Jesus invited people to enter cannot be seen; it is a kingdom of change of consciousness. When you stop being concerned for things material, when you place all trust in the power of the One God of this universe who creates all, sustains all, redeems all-then you have entered the Kingdom of God.
What were Kings like in Jesus day? Herod the Great was crowned "King of Judea" by Roman authorities in 37 BCE. Caesar Augustus was Roman Ruler when Jesus was born. Rome held secular power over the people, but Herod, who was a converted Jew, was honored as an able governor, and was crowned King of the Jews. Herod was King when Jesus was born. But Herod the Great was emotionally disturbed toward the end of his life; he lived in fear of someone taking his throne. He ordered the killing all boy babies in Bethlehem shortly after Jesus' birth. Herod died not long after Jesus' birth, and his son, Herod Antipas, inherited the role as ruler of Judea. Herod Antipas was the one who beheaded John the Baptist on the whim of his stepdaughter. Herod Antipas questioned Jesus before his trial, placing an "elegant robe on him", mocking him as King of the Jews. (Luke 23:6-12) Antipas himself was never actually crowned "king" by Roman authorities. A few years after Jesus' death Herod Antipas traveled to Rome to ask to be crowned king, but was in fact, sent into exile instead. (Anchor Bible Dict., v. 3, p. 160)
Is it any wonder Jesus ran to the hills when he sensed the crowd trying to force him to be King? Why would he want God's kingdom to be associated with these human rulers?
But not all Biblical Kings were scoundrels. Some actually displayed a sense of mercy and reasonableness in their leadership. Take for instance King Cyrus II, not a king of the Jews, but a Persian ruler of the 6th C. BCE. We heard about Cyrus in our first reading today.
Cyrus was a "great conqueror and statesman", the founder of an empire. From modern day Iran on the East to Turkey on the north and all of Israel and Palestine on the West, 550 years before Jesus, Cyrus built an Empire that engulfed Mesopotamia. He ruled the coveted "Fertile Crescent" between the Euphrates and Tigres Rivers. At the heart of Cyrus' Kingdom stood Babylon, a city whose name literally means "Gate of God." Babylon was 90 miles south of the modern day city of Baghdad, Iraq.
Kings have fought over this valuable land and its people for at least 28 centuries of recorded history. Cyrus was one merciful ruler who ruled his empire by maintaining respect for local cultures and traditions. When he came to power he freed Jews in exile in Babylon. Cyrus had the power to let the Jews return to their Holy Land. Not only did he free them, he gave them the means to reestablish their religious heritage in Jerusalem.
Cyrus' mercy toward Jews was a great turning point in Hebrew history. But as history shows, Jewish Holy Land, the land of Palestine, the beautiful land of the Fertile Crescent-all these lands continued in war. The land of Babylon-modern day Iraq--is again under siege. A tyrannical leader has refused to go into exile. The powerful leadership of the United States insists he must be removed. I ask, "How can the good news of Jesus Christ inform us on what kind of rulership/kingship is needed for these war-torn people?"
The leadership of the United States says it started this war in order to liberate oppressed Iraqi citizens. I wonder, do we truly have the power to free these people? Will our actions only add to their oppression while exposing us to world-wide criticism and possible economic bankruptcy? Last month I delivered a sermon in which I indicated my dismay that the United States would enter into war with Iraq without the support of the United Nations. 2 parishioners came to me and suggested I read a book by historian, Barbara Tuchman, The March of Folly. In this brilliant work, Ms. Tuchman offers a survey of military decisions from Ancient Troy to Vietnam. She shows how, in the course of human history, otherwise capable leaders have engaged foolishly in wars they cannot win. They sometimes rationalize their actions as "good for others." Cultural ignorance, greed, and misuse of power delude them into justifying their self-defeating actions. (March of Folly, pp.31,32) She says that even when advisors show their King or President that a given engagement in war is "contra-indicated" the leaders ignore advisors because "mankind…is addicted to pursuing policy contrary to self-interest." (p.41) In the case of the Vietnam War, 5 U.S. Presidents allowed our country to engage in conflict we could not win. In 1946 the French commander in chief, whose country was initially responsible for settling Vietnam's fate following WWII, stated, "It would take 500,000 men to do it and even then it could not be done." (p.244) Two decades later 500,000 American soldiers were fighting in Vietnam, and sadly, were unable to effect the settlement on behalf of the French or any other western power. Is war with Iraq another unconscious engagement in the folly of another "contra-indicated" war? At least, is it "contra-indicated" for us to fight without the support of the United Nations?
Our President and his closest advisors believe they are following the will of God as they send our troops over to "liberate" Iraq. Some believe George Bush's presidency was divinely ordained (NY Observer, "Is George W. Bush God's President?" March 29, 2003). We are told we should trust our President knows what he is doing. Yet Saddham Hussein and his closest advisors also believe him to be "God's leader." But does God really choose sides in human wars?
What do you think Jesus would say to this claim of either side? Jesus had the power to overcome Caesar Augustus, but did not. Jesus had the power to make foolish ruler, Herod, bow to him, but he did not. Jesus showed that God does not align himself with any human political party. God does not force people into God's Kingdom.
Jesus did warn his followers that human wars and further destruction of God's holy land would continue. But he encouraged them to not fear such wars. Jesus knew that mankind would continue to enter into wars of folly as long as humankind continues to seek self-interested power. Only when humanity is ready to forgo the greed of self-aggrandizement will there be a hope of humanity engaging in God's heavenly kingdom. Person by person, nation by nation, those who choose first the kingdom of God will find peace. Whatever the outcome of this or any other war, do not blame God, and do not give God any credit. God does not want credit for war.
AMEN.
| Updated 4/6/03 |
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